Nailing machine



March 17, 1953 F. PFYFFER 2,631,284

NAILING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. fiancesco /gffer BY 6 44 5 ATTORNEVS March 17, 1953 F PFYFFER 2,631,284

NAILING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE E /4 77 79/4/3 IN VEN TOR.

fiancesco fgffer A 7 TOR/V5 V5 March 17, 1953 F. PFYFFER 2,631,284

NAILING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 AFIE E INVENTOR. fiancesco P/y fer haw M F. PFYFFER NAILING MACHINE March 17,1953

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 5, 1952 .5 .w w R M kw m w. i A m a w 51V Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to nailing machines and particularly to that type of nailing machine which is adapted to be used in connection with the nailing of a wooden top in a wooden drum.

Wooden cylindrical drums are particularly used in California in connection with the packing and shipping of vegetable products, including Brussels sprouts. Generally, such drums are delivered to the shipper or packer with one end open and with the lids removed. The drums are provided with an annular inner lip at some point near the upper open end upon which the circular wooden top is adapted to rest, The tops are customarily provided with various types of hooks, clamps and other devices by which they may be secured to the open end of the drum by first positioning them against the lip and then securing the clamps or hooks.

Such devices are of necessity expensive not only as pieces of mechanism, but, since they add to the labor of packing and unpacking for inspection, because of the high labor cost involved in connection with their use.

Various simplified devices and mechanisms have been utilized to secure a proper and inexpensive means for fastening the cover in place. For example, my own co-pending application, Serial No. 155,220 filed April 11, 1950, shows one means of avoiding the clamps and hooks and other devices customarily utilized.

It is an object of this invention to provide a pack which would utilize merely a drum and a circular top without the use of hooks, clamps or other devices and which will utilize, instead of them, merely a conventional nail.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a simple means for maintaining a circular cover in place by means of one or more nails which have been inserted at appropriate places and then bent along a pre-determined path to hold the top in position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device by which the top may be nailed in place by the utilization of conventional nails and sub-' stantially conventional nailing machines.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a side elevational view of a nailing machine incorporating my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a foot control means for actuating my device and illus-: trates a foot control lever and the linkage by which the same controls a clutch and is taken along the line 22 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1 illustrating the drive mechanism from the motor and the meansfor actuating the clutch together with other apparatus which, in turn, is actuated by the operation of the clutch;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 1 and illustrates nailing hammers and the mandrel in operating position with respect to a drum;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the device showing a drum in position;

Figure 6 is a detail of the nailing mechanism and the linkage for actuating the same;

Figure 7 is a detail of the mandrel and the linkage for actuating the same and illustrates the mandrel in annealing position;

Figure 8, like Figure '7, is a detail of the man drel and the linkage for actuating the same and showing the mandrel in elevated or non-operat ing position in which position the drum may be removed from the machine; v

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one portion of the mandrel, as illustrated in Figure 4; and

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the lines Ill-l0 of Figure 9 showing a portion of the hammer, mandrel, top and drum after a nail has been positioned to hold the top in the drum.

As illustrated in Figure 1, I have provided a de-'- vice mounted upon a base III which forms a base for the entire apparatus. The base I0 is formed of a pair of side members I I, in the form of angle irons which are spaced by cross members l2. The base also supports vertical side members l3, each of which is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and is com posed of a pair of vertical angle irons M which are secured to the base in any suitable manner as by being bolted thereto or welded thereto.

The side members l3 support a platform l6 which, as indicated in Figure 4, is provided with.

, a circular cut-out portion H which accommodates a circular platform l8 upon which a druni I9 may be mounted. The circular platform I8 is mounted upon a spindle 2| which, in turnfis' rotatably mounted in bearings 22.

The vertical side channels 13 support a semicircular member 23 whose inner diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the drum I9. Member 23 forms a backing surface for the drum l9 as illustrated in Figure 10 and also provides a support for the forward ends 24 of the automatic hammers 23. The hammers 25 are also supported by bracket arms 21, as indicated.

The member 23 further provides a support upon which the mandrel 28 is mounted. As viewed particularly in Figures '7 and 8 the mandrel 28 is mounted on one end of an arm 29 which is pivoted at points 3| and 32 respectively to levers 33 and 34 respectively. The member 33 is pivoted at 36 and its other end is provided with a roller 31 Which bears against one side of the lever 34 which, as indicated, is irregular in shape and, as viewed in Figures 7 and 8, is adapted to act as a cam with respect to the roller 31. The member 34 is connected to a lever 38 pivoted at 39 which, in turn, is actuated by a cam 4|. When the cam 4| rotates it actuates the lever 38 with the result that the mandrel 28 is raised "or lowered as indicated. As viewed in Figures 4 and 10 the mandrel 28 is provided with two surfaces 42 and 43 which bear against the inside surface Isa of the wall of the drum [9 when the mandrel is in the lowered position illustrated in Figure 7. The surfaces of the portions 42 and 43 are serrated or grooved as viewed in Figure 9, and, as viewed in Figure 10', are sloped at an angle of approximately 60 to the vertical.

Generally speaking, when the mandrel is in the position viewed in Figures 4, 7 and lo a nail which is driven by one of the automatic hammers 26 will be driven through the wall l3a of the drum l9 and will engage one of the surfaces 42 or 43 on the mandrel 28. When the nail strikes the mandrel 28 it will be bent downwardly by the sloping surface of the mandrel and caused to pass through the top I91) of the drum, the lip I90 of the drum and back into the wall ISa of the drum, as viewed in Figure 10.

The serrations or grooves 42a in the surfaces 42 and 43 of the mandrel 28 will direct the nails in a predetermined path and will prevent them from bending from one side to the other as would be the case if the surfaces 42 and 43 were smooth. In that event it is apparent that the nail would be free to follow substantially any course and might not bedirected downwardly in the path illustrated in Figure 10.

The mechanism for operating the power hammers and the mandrel in the other component portions of the machine may be described as follows:

An electric motor through transmission belts 52 to a horizontal cross shaft 53 which is mounted in suitable bearings. The shaft 53 is provided with a pulley 54 which through a belt 56 and a gear box 5! drives rotating arm 58 which, through an arm 59, operates the nail hopper 3| The nail hopper 3! is of the conventional type and feeds nails through the tubular members 62 to the hammers 26.

The cross shaft 53 is also provided with a gear 63 which is in constant mesh with a gear 64 which forms the outer driving member of a clutch assembly 66.

Theclutch 36 is engaged by the operation of foot lever 61. The foot lever 51 is pivoted at 68 and through the linkage illustrated generally in Figure 2, when the same is depressed, the arms 69 are urged apart causing the driven portion of the clutch 66 to engage the driving portion thereprovides the power of and transmit power to the cross shaft 1 l. The cross shaft H is provided with a suitable sprocket 12 which, through a chain 73, drives a cross shaft 14 upon which the cam 4| is mounted.

The ends of the cross shaft H are provided with crank arms 16 which actuate a pair of connecting rods 11. The rotary motion of the crank pins 16 through the connecting rods 11 imparts a vertical motion to shafts 78 which are mounted for reciprocating motion in suitable bearings 19. The reciprocating shafts 18 as viewed in Figure 6, actuate arms 8| which are pivotally connected to rocker arms 82, which are pivoted at 83 and serve to actuate levers 84 which, in turn, operate the mechanical hammer assemblies 26.

Operation of the entire device may briefly be described as follows:

The electric motor 5| is connected to a suitable source of outside power and is continually rotating. Motor 51 drives the countershaft 53 and, through the gears 33 and 64, drives the driving portion of the clutch assembly 66. Through the pulley 54, belt 56, gear'assembly 5'! and crank arm 58, the nail hopper M is actuated to supply nails through the tubes 82 to the two mechanical hammers 25. A loaded drum [9 is placed upon the turntable [8 in such almanner that its upper side walls 13a engage the abutment plate 23. A top l9b is placed on the lip I90. The operator then depresses the foot pedal 61 which, through the linkage illustrated in Figure '2, serves to actuate the driven portion of the clutch 66. By actuating the driven portion of the clutch 86 the shaft H will be rotated and each revolution of the shaft ll causes the cam 41 to rotate one-half a revolution. One-half a revolution of the cam 4| will, through the linkage illustrated in Figures '7 and 8, move the mandrel 28 from the position in Figure 8 to the position illustrated in Figure 7.

The revolution of the shaft II will also impart one complete revolution to the crank 16 and will cause operation of the two hammers 26. The linkages previously described are so adjusted that the mandrel 28 will be in the position illustrated in Figure '7 at the moment that the mechanical hammers 23 are actuated. Actuation of the ham mers 26 will, as previously described, drive a nail through the side wall [9a of the drum I9, into engagement with the sloping serrated face of the mandrel 28, through the top 1% and into and through the horizontal lip I9c.

After one complete revolution of the shaft H the mandrel 28 will be returned to the position illustrated in Figure 8 whereupon the drum l9 may be rotated upon the turntable IS in any desired position and the operation completed.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that [I have supplied a simplified method for securing the tops to wooden drums of this character by providing a simple mandrel of the type illustrated which not only directs the nail downwardly and back into the top [92) and the rib Mic but also serves to hold the drum 45 against the backing plate 23. A study of Figures '7 and 8 will reveal that upward movement of the lever 34 will urge the arm 29 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7 with the result that the mandrel 28 is urged to the left as viewed in Figure 7.

A spring tends to urge the mandrel-actuat ing mechanism to the position illustrated in Figure 8 and maintains the cam roller on the arm 38 in positive engagement with the cam 4-] It is also obvious that the clutch assembly 66, may be of the single revolution type and need not be one which may be caused to remain in engagement and rotate the shaft H for so long a period as the foot pedal 61 is depressed, in which event the mandrel 28 will be recipro'cated continuously. However, the automatic nailers 25 will be operated only at such times as the mandrel 28 is in the position illustrated generally in Figure 7.

i It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a simplified form of nailing machine which is particularly useful in connection with the nailing of circular ,wooden tops on wooden drums.

I claim:

1. In a nailing machine particularly adapted to be used, in conjunction'with securing a head to a wooden drum, a backing plate'adapted to engage said wooden drum about a substantial portion of its periphery, an automatic hammer adapted to direct a nail through the wall of said drum in a plane parallel to and above said head, means for directing the nail downwardly from said plane and through said head comprising a mandrel having a serrated surface set at an angle to the direction at which the nail is first driven through said drum.

2. In a nailing machine, a backing plate adapted to engage a wooden drum, an automatic hammer adapted to direct a nail through the wall of said drum in a plane parallel to and above the cover of said drum, means for directing the nail downwardly from said plane and through said cover, said means comprising a mandrel having a serrated surface set at an angle to the direction at which the nail is first driven through said wall.

3. In a nailing machine particularly adapted to be used in conjunction with securing a head to a wooden drum, a backing plate adapted to enage a wooden drum, an automatic hammer adapted to direct a nail through the wall of said drum in a plane parallel to the head, means for directing the nail downwardly from said plane and through said head, said means comprising a mandrel having a serrated surface set at an angle to said plane.

4. In a nailing machine adapted to be utilized in connection with securing wooden tops to round wooden drums, a plurality of automatic nailing hammers, a backing plate adapted to engage a drum and to support said hammers, means for deflecting the path of the nails from said nailing hammers through said lid comprising a reciprocating mandrel adapted to engage said lid and said drum and hold the same securely against said backing plate and having a plurality of serrated planar surfaces adapted to be engaged by the nail and to deflect the same from its original path through said top.

5. In a nailing machine adapted to be utilized in connection with securing wooden tops to round wooden drums, a pair of automatic nailing hammers, a backing plate adapted to engage a drum and to support said hammers, means for deflecting the path of the nails from said nailing hammers through said lid, said means comprising a mandrel adapted to engage said lid and said drum and hold the drum securely against said backing plate and having a pair of serrated planar surfaces adapted to be engaged by the nail and to deflect the same from its original path through said top.

6. In a nailing machine adapted to be utilized in connection with securing wooden tops to round wooden drums, a pair of automatic nailing hammers, a backing plate adapted to engage the 6. andto support said hammers, means for de-"-". fleeting the path of the nails from said nailing hammers through said lid, said means compris-J ing a mandrel adapted to engage'said lid and hold said drum securely against said backing plate and having a plurality of serrated planar surfaces adapted to deflect said nails from their original paths through said top, and means'fori moving said mandrel into and out of nail-deflecting'position whereby said drum and said lid may bepositioned for nailing operations and removed there-' from.

'7. In a nailing machine adapted to be utilized in connection with securing tops. to drums, a plu'-. rality of automatic nailing hammers, a backing plate adapted to engage the drums, means for deflecting the path of the nails from said nailing hammer through said lid, comprising a reciprocating mandrel having a plurality of serrated planar surfaces adapted to be engaged by the nail and to deflect the same from its original path through said top, and means for moving said mandrel into and out of nail-deflecting position.

8. In a nailing machine particularly adapted to be used in conjunction with securing heads to wooden drums, a backing plate adapted to engage a wooden drum about a substantial portion of its periphery, an automatic hammer adapted to direct a nail through the wall of said drum in a plane parallel to and above the head, means for directing the nail downwardly from said plane and through said head comprising a reciprocating mandrel having a serrated surface set at an angle to the direction at which the nail is first driven through said drum, means for actuating said mandrel and means for driving said hammers whereby said hammers are caused to operate only when the mandrel is in nail-deflecting position.

9. In a nailing machine particularly adapted to be used in conjunction with securing heads to wooden drums, an automatic hammer adapted to direct a nail through the wall of a drum in a plane parallel to and above the head, means for directing the nail downwardly from said plane and through said head, said means comprising a mandrel having a serrated surface set at an angle to the direction at which the nail is first driven through said drum, means for actuating said mandrel and means for driving said hammers whereby said hammers are caused to operate only when the mandrel is in nail-deflecting position.

10. In a nailing machine particularly adapted to be used in conjunction with securing a head to a wooden drum, a backing plate adapted to engage said wooden drum about a substantial portion of its periphery, an automatic hammer adapted to direct a nail through the wall of said drum in a plane parallel to and above said head, means for directing the nail through approximately a curve with reference to the initial direction by first directing the nail horizontally through said wall, then downwardly through said head and then outwardly through an annular lip supporting said head and into said wall, said directing means comprising a mandrel having a serrated surface set at an angle to said plane.

11. In a nailing machine adapted to be utilized in connection with securing wooden tops to round wooden drums, a platform provided with a circular rotatable portion for supporting a drum, a pair of automatic nailing hammers, means for feeding nails to said hammers, a backing plate adapted to engage said drum and to support said 7. hammers, a mandrel for deflecting the path of the nails from said nailing hammers through said top, said mandrel engaging said lid and holding said drum .securely against said backing plate and having a plurality of serrated planar surfaces at an angle to said top adapted to deflect said nails from their original paths through approximately 'a- 180 curve by first directing the nails horizontally through walls of .said drum then downwardly through said top and then outwardly 1'0 1, 2 7

through said wall, and means for moving said mandrel into and out of the nail deflecting position whereby .said drum and said lid may be positioned for the nailing operation and removal therefrom.

- FRANCESCO PFYFFER.

8": REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

